Up-to-the minute updates and insights from the Red Wings locker room at home and on the road. By Chuck Pleiness of The Macomb Daily.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Helm recalled, McCarty to GR

Darren Helm is on the ice right now at the Wings' morning skate and it looks like he'll play tonight against Montreal. To make cap room for Helm, Darren McCarty was assigned to Grand Rapids.

Helm, 21, was second on the Griffins in scoring with 18 points in 16 games (5-13--18). The recall marks Helm’s second stint with the Wings this year as he appeared in two games in October (vs. the NY Rangers and Vancouver).

"We've been on the road a lot," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "When you come back home, there's a lack of energy. Helmer can really fly and he gives us four (forward) units. I didn't do a good enough job playing enough people in Vancouver and this gives us more balance. We'll be able to skate better."

McCarty, 36, has netted one goal and has 25 PIMs in 13 games with the Wings this season. McCarty will be available to make his 2008-09 Griffins debut tonight when the team hosts the Manchester Monarchs at 7 p.m.

Also of note, both Chris Chelios (broken leg) and Dan Cleary (scratched cornea) are practicing with the team this morning.

The Wings also recalled left wing Randall Gelech, who was then reassigned to the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League

Gelech, 26, had two penalty minutes and a minus-1 rating through five games with Grand Rapids this season. He has totaled 75 games with the Griffins since the start of the 2007-08 campaign, tallying 15 points (7-8—15) and 39 PIM.

With Gelech often being a healthy scratch in Grand Rapids this season, sending him to Rochester is a cost-cutting measure for the Red Wings getting rid of a 24-year-old veteran who doesn't have much chance at making the Detroit roster.